Rondo works out with Celtics' D-League team

Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - In what was essentially a procedural move to
prepare Rajon Rondo for his expected season debut, the Boston Celtics assigned
the All-Star point guard to the Maine Red Claws on Wednesday before recalling
him from the team's NBA Development League affiliate.

The transaction enabled Rondo, working his way back from a torn ACL suffered
nearly a year ago, to practice with the Red Claws in advance of the Celtics'
upcomimg game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo had hinted via a Twitter
message on Monday that he was on schedule to play in Friday's contest.

"Rajon is progressing terrifically in his rehab and this is the next step,"
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "This is a brief
assignment so that Rajon can participate in a workout this afternoon with the
Red Claws and he will be called back up to the Celtics upon the conclusion of
the workout."

Rondo tore his ACL on Jan. 25 of last year in a game at Atlanta and underwent
surgery a few weeks later, missing Boston's final 39 games of the 2012-13
regular season as well as the team's loss to the New York Knicks in the
Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Celtics have gone just 13-26 without the four-time All-Star in the lineup
this season, the fourth-worst record in the East.